Embraces new life journeys....

My sister started her first few days of her "new life." Okay so maybe it is not her new life, but she is starting the path to become a doctor at The University of Utah. I am excited for her to embrace new challenges, knowledges and a new field that is her calling in life. I went to a BBQ with her for all Utah Medical Students and it made me realize how amazing the journey is towards her new life. She is like a baby taking its first steps, she is taking her first steps towards her ultimate career aspiration. Friday is her white coat ceremony in which the Medical School physically welcomes the first years into the start of their new journeys. I personally am excited to watch and embrace her new journey.
I guess I am on a new journey as well ever since I moved here. My journey took a slightly different direction with myself deciding to take a few more classes at the community college. Classes that would not only help to further my education, but also classes that would help me with my future career. While I am still deciding if working in the Sports Industry is my life calling I am taking classes that would be beneficial in all careers. I am taking a web site design class, Principles of Interviewing, and CPR and First Aid. After being at Oregon State the past four years and then transitioning to a community college has been an interesting switch of pace. I am really enjoying the small class sizes at the community college level. Being a student at this level you really get to engage not only with your professor, but with other classmates on a more intimate level. There are more opportunities for extra help outside of the classroom and the professors are more willing to sit down and talk your future plans. I have come to like the way most of my professors handle class. Most of them don't believe in midterms or finals and they like you to get more of a hands on learning style than a lecture style of learning. It is so nice to take classes that I want to take versus classes that I need to take.
I am working on embracing my new life journey. I am working on bettering myself and learning to be happy on a consistent base. I am challenging myself mentally, physically and emotionally. My two areas in which I am working to improve upon are being more patient with everything that I do and I am trying to give straight, to the point answers.


Till next time...Smile, be safe and have fun everyday!

A month in....

It is August 4, 2008 and I am about to finish my first month living and working in Utah. My job has really taken off and I am starting to feel important, needed and appreciated more and more everyday. I am doing a lot of marketing, promotions and writing. I am now the Promotions and Marketing Intern for Pepsi and this internship is allowing me to see what corporate America is all about. I must say that we as a nation rely on corporations so much and I never realized how much until getting involved in this internship. Pepsi helps to control some of the things we as an athletic department get to do and do not get to do. If they don't give us money, we are not doing it.
My personal life is starting to take off as well. I am meeting lots of people through my ultimate frisbee group. From this group, I have people to rock climb every Wednesday night with to go along with my ultimate frisbee.
Last weekend, we went to a cabin in Ogden Utah, and I had such a blast. This cabin was on five acerages of land, and it has a spring fed pool that has a temperature of 60 degrees all year round. I love non-chlorinated pools. Right near the cabin, is this huge resovir that you can go cliff jumping off of or just swim around in. The resovir was so clean and clear, it was like looking through a clean glass cup. I also experienced my first Salt Lake Saturday market which borught in all the local and organic food from all over Utah. It was a bit pricy however, very delicious.
What else, Oh I met this awesome guy who is probably one of the sexist men that I have ever met. He is nice and really into being outside just like myself. He is half Colombian and half Austrian and a tad bit younger than me. We have been hanging out a bit and hopefully that will contiinue!

Have fun, be safe and smile!

I finally got out a bit this weekend which was fabulous! My sister, her boyfriend and I took the dogs and our gear and went rock climbing in the Unita Mountains. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous and it gave me a great sense of true natural beauty. Rock climbing was a bit harder than I thought. It wasn't my first time, but it was my first time in a year. I learned how to belay a lead climber and I learned all the climbing lingo. I also took the dogs for a hike around the beautiful mountains which still had snow on them. I slid down the snow because I kept falling trying to walk in it. The dogs went swimming in Ruth Lake and I threw them a stick many times.

When I got back last night after the hour and a half drive; Rudi, Harte (two of my best friends from high school) and Pete (from Holland) all were on there way to my house because they are staying with me for three nights! I was so happy to see people that I not only knew but were friends with. Mom comes tonight with my car and to help me move into the basement. It will be one big party for the next few nights.

While Harte, Rudi and Pete are here I hope to participate in some activities with them. I want us to go to a Bee's game which is a minor league baseball team for the Angels as well as go to Park City. I also wouldn't mind if we all went hiking but who knows if we will have time. I have yet to experience the bar scene of Salt Lake so perhaps we can experience that as well together. To get into bars in SLC you need to have a membership which I decided is basically like a one time cover charge. When I do experience the bar scene I will keep you posted.

I keep on meeting the most interesting people here. I liked that aspect because you never know what you are going to get with people from Utah.

I better actually start doing real work now versus writing my blog.
Till next time,
Jenna

A half week in...

I am finally starting to feel like this is my home and starting to enjoy things more. At first I was a little worried moving here and afraid of being in a new place but I have started to relax a bit more. I went to this awesome Yoga studio for a yoga class on Tuesday. I had never been to a yoga studio so already I did one new thing while here.

I need to explore downtown more but what I have seen I have liked so far. I have three friends going to be in Salt Lake and staying with me so therefore I might explore more of downtown with them.

My job is finally getting on its way. I am the Sports Information Director at Salt Lake Community College. Isn't that a fancy title? It is weird being 22 with a fancy job title like that. Volleyball season starts at the end of August and when that starts I will be a lot busier with working games. Last year Salt Lake Bruin Volleyball was ranked number 1 in the nation. They ended up placing 3rd overall but it was the best season in school history. Everyone that I work with is really nice and helpful. I get more of the family feeling working in a small athletic department than working at a place like Oregon State. I just wrote my first big article on volleyball today and I am looking to touch it up with perfection.

I played poker last night and had such a great time. I did not think that I would, but I realized how risky I am as a player. It is way more fun to be a risky player than one that sits back. I figured since it was only $5.00 why not play on the edge. It ended up almost paying off, but I broke even which is better than losing money.

Tomorrow I am going to see The Roots play a free concert in downtown Salt Lake. It should be a great show and extremely fun.

Tat-Tat for now,
Jenna

The beginning to a Utah journey, and a new chapter

Greetings everyone from Sandy Utah. This is my new home for at least the next year and I am still unsure about this move. I am still trying to grasp the fact that I am no longer in college and now having to start in the "real world." Sandy is about 25 minutes from Salt Lake and 45 minutes from Park City. I am right in the view of the Wasatch Mountains, which circulates Sandy and other suburb cities. Yes, I am living in the suburbs. While there are the typical suburban essences like neighborhoods and chain stones infesting the cities there is still so much beauty that surrounds Sandy. The mountains obviously add a whole new form of beauty to the suburbs as well as the endless trails for walking, hiking and running. There are less cookie cutter homes here but rather neighborhoods filled with unique style and individuality. Either suburb life has changed, or the Utah suburbs are unique creatures all in themselves.
I cannot wait to experience the outdoor life in this outdoor lovers paradise. With my graduation money, I am going to buy a mountain bike. I am pretty excited to buy my bike. My sister and I are going to go on a hike later this week, so that will be my first encounter with outdoor paradise besides the snowboarding.
Last night was my first night here living with my sister. So far we are getting along, and hopefully it can stay that way. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a peaceful unity between the both of us. I met my sister's boyfriend last night, Mark. He is an attractive rock climber and has actively engaged my sister into climbing a lot. He is younger than Chris (her ex-boyfriend) thank God. He seems nice, but my final grade of him is still being determined. Last night was fun because my sister had a BBQ in which she invited a few friends over. Like myself, she has mostly guy friends. I guess we are more alike then I thought. We ate, drank and chatted. Because the beer sucks here do to less alcohol content (unless you buy it from a liquor store, which is ridiculously expensive) I will have to drink harder alcohol. Maybe the fact that beer sucks here is a good thing for when I start my training for another marathon.
Tomorrow is my first meeting with my boss, Norma for my first REAL job out of college. Norma is the athletic director at Salt Lake Community College where I am a Sports Information Assistant. I will let you know how that goes in the next few days. I am getting pretty tired as it is 10:30, I know its so late!

Till Next Time,
Jenna